500 for 500 – Thank you!

Together we achieved something amazing

Thanks to the generosity of the travel & tourism industry, the 500 for 500 appeal has achieved its target of raising £250,000 to help struggling families get a break.

The Family Holiday Association has always had strong links with the travel and tourism industry, thanks to our shared desire to spread happiness, create cherished memories and improve well-being. The charity’s aim has always been to do all this for the people who need it most: the children and families in desperate circumstances who would otherwise never go on a break; those for whom a holiday is a lifeline, not a luxury.

Concieved as part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations (2015-16), 500 for 500 asked for pledges of £500 from our friends new and old within the industry. To have achieved the target of 500 pledges is a fantastic achievement and the Family Holiday Association would like to thank everyone who made a pledge.

Each £500 pledge enables us to send two families on a three-to-four night break in a caravan at a holiday park, or a day trip for 10 families (around 40 people) who may struggle to spend a night away. Or, a family on a modest seven-night break in a Family Holiday Association-owned caravan by the British seaside.

Alison Rice, Chair of the Family Holiday Association, says “We help some of the most disadvantaged families in the UK: families knocked sideways by dire circumstances. A short, simple break can really make a difference and help a family cope with whatever the future throws at them. Your industry has provided incredible support during this campaign and will help hundreds more families, that for once in their lives, have something to look forward to.”

Deborah Potts, Ambassador of the charity and Elman Wall’s Director of their Summit Advisory M&A arm, states “The support of the industry and many dedicated colleagues has been overwhelming, together with the tireless Family Holiday Association fundraising team who have made this a reality. We set out to ‘achieve something amazing when we launched the campaign and I truly believe that we have.”

To help say a sincere thank you we have prepared a short tribute in the form of a flip book, telling the story of some of the families that have been helped, meeting a selection of pledgers and explaining how, by working together, we really have achieved something amazing….